A senior official of Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Dr Martin Kusi, has raised concerns over the sobolo drink associated with Believers Worship Centre founder Prophet Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah.
Speaking in an interview on Okay FM, Dr Kusi said any food or beverage promoted as having medicinal or healing properties must first receive approval from the FDA.
According to him, Prophet Adom Kyei-Duah’s sobolo has not been registered with the FDA as a medicinal product.
“There is no basis for such a sobolo to be approved as a medicinal product. The FDA won’t approve such a product,” he said.
Dr Kusi explained that there is a clear difference between selling sobolo as a normal beverage and marketing it as a product capable of treating illnesses.
He said products advertised with medicinal claims must undergo scientific evaluation and receive FDA approval before they can legally be sold or promoted for such purposes.
“If anyone produces a food or drink and presents it as a drug or as having medicinal properties, he or she has to come to us at the FDA for approval. Otherwise, that is an illegality,” he explained.
Dr Kusi added that the FDA does not regulate spiritual or miracle claims. However, once a product is promoted as being able to treat or heal specific health conditions, it falls under the FDA’s regulatory mandate.
He warned that selling or advertising a beverage with unapproved medicinal claims could amount to a criminal offence.
